Nine Years, One Last Frame, and a Full Circle - Morphology 2026

Today was a deeply emotional day. I stood on the Lakeview waterfront for the final time as a photographer for the Morphology project. After nine years of documenting this land's incredible evolution, the gates are finally set to open to the public on May 30, 2026, and standing there today, I felt the full weight of everything this place has been through.

This journey started when the late Jim Tovey visited Pazán Gallery, saw my photographs of Port Credit, and invited me to be part of something he believed in deeply. At the time, we were looking at scarred land, a degraded stretch of eastern Mississauga's Lake Ontario shoreline, marked by decades of industrial use. I'll never forget the ritual of gearing up in full PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) just to get the shot. Today, there was no gear required. Instead of mud and rocks, I found sculptural amenities, stylish garbage bins that look like art pieces, and swarms of birds that have already made this beautiful new conservation area their home.

TWO RESTORATIONS, ONE STORY

As a visual artist and owner of Pazán Gallery, witnessing this transformation has been one of the greatest privileges of my life. What makes this moment feel so complete is that it connects two journeys I have been part of.

Years before the Morphology project began, I volunteered as Marketing Director on the Small Arms Society board alongside Jim Tovey and an incredible group of volunteers. We hauled debris out of a condemned Second World War building on Lakeshore Road East, working toward something we believed in. I'll never forget the nail-biting final minutes before our very first InSitu event — waiting on a fire inspection that cleared just in time for the doors to open. That building, the Small Arms Inspection Building, is now a thriving cultural space for artists — and it is the very venue hosting this final Morphology exhibition.

When I felt my mission at the Small Arms Society was complete, I stepped away and returned my focus to Pazán Gallery. Jim continued his tireless advocacy — for the building, for the waterfront, for the community. When the Morphology project took shape, he sought me out, knowing my eye and my work, and invited me to document it.

We celebrated the very first Morphology exhibition together. Jim passed away on January 15, 2018 — but not before seeing this vision begin to bloom. This final exhibition is, in many ways, for him. And knowing Jim, he'd be the one trying to get onstage. 

WHAT WAS ACTUALLY BUILT HERE

I want to be very clear about something: the photographers in this project — myself included — were privileged witnesses. The real heroes of this story are the engineers, ecologists, hydrologists, site workers, and the dedicated teams at Credit Valley Conservation (CVC) and the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA) who physically built this place.

The numbers are staggering. Over 370,000 cubic metres of brick, rubble and concrete were repurposed to build the new landform. More than 1.7 million cubic metres of clean soil were moved to create the terrain. Over 76,000 wetland plants and 38,000 trees and shrubs have been planted. A new 1.6 km shoreline was established from scratch. This work has already earned international recognition — an award from the Society for Ecological Restoration for excellence in urban ecological restoration.

And it is not finished. Monitoring and active management will continue for 30 years. The forests, grasslands, and wetlands are young and need continued care and protection. Both the conservation area and the Small Arms Inspection Building are still in their early chapters. What we are celebrating is a beginning, not an ending — and both will need continued support, dedication, and love to reach their full potential.

THE PHOTOGRAPHERS WHO BORE WITNESS

It was an honour to document this history alongside: Annette Seip, Bob Warren, Darren Clarke, Gabriella Bank, Sandor Bank, Heather Doyle, Julie Knox, Lachlan McVee, Martin Pinker, PJ Bell, Stephen Uhraney, and myself — Marcelo Leonardo Pazán.

WITH GRATITUDE

Councillor Stephen Dasko — Ward 1, Mississauga For carrying Jim's torch and championing Ward 1 and the arts community with the same fearless dedication Jim always brought to everything he touched. Your support ensured the momentum never wavered.

Lee Tovey For her continued presence and for keeping Jim's vision burning bright. Jim and Lee were more than visionaries to me — they were early clients at Pazán Gallery and dear friends who attended my wedding. Lee, thank you for being the heart behind the dream.

The Teams at CVC, TRCA, and the Region of Peel For the decade of environmental assessment, engineering, habitat creation, and restoration that turned a damaged shoreline into a living, breathing sanctuary. This was always a tremendous group effort by so many dedicated people.

While I am incredibly proud to see this site open, a part of me — the artist and the conservationist — hopes that the long walk required to reach this area will naturally deter the casual crowds just enough to preserve the quiet beauty and delicate habitats we have worked so hard to restore. This is a place worth protecting.

I invite you all to experience this transformation for yourselves. It is a masterclass in how land can morph for the better. And if it moves you the way it has moved me, please keep showing up for it.

EXHIBITION DETAILS

Morphology 2026 | Final Photography Exhibition
Small Arms Inspection Building,
1352 Lakeshore Road East, Mississauga May 23 – June 3, 2026
Free Admission Artist Panel: Thursday, May 21 at 7:00 PM

View the Morphology exhibition details: https://cvc.ca/event/morphology-public-gallery/
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Jim Tovey Lakeview Conservation Area — Opens May 30, 2026 Plan your visit: https://cvc.ca/jim-tovey-lakeview-conservation-area/

Jim, the birds are back, and the land is beautiful. Rest easy. 🌿📸

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